Container having props which can be folded away into the lateral structural members

Abstract

This invention relates to metal containers including two longitudinal lateral members and a plurality of supports articulated on the container body and integral therewith. Each support, in a stored position, can retract into the lateral members of the container such that no part projects from the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for supporting a container including a body and a plurality of laterally disposed, longitudinal structural members attached to the body, comprising: a sheath attached to and extending between the structural members;   a plurality of support arms slidingly received within the sheath and including means for retaining the support arms within the sheath as the support arms are guided along the sheath to a fully opened-out position, wherein the retaining means includes a rod slidably received by a first of the support arms, wherein a first end of the rod includes a stop for engaging the first of the support arms and a second end of the rod is attached to a second of the support arms; and   a plurality of support props associated with the support arms and hingedly associated with the structural members of the container so that in a folded-away position, the support props are folded into the structural members without projecting from beneath the body of the container.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the rod further includes a lockwasher attached to the second support arm and one of the support props received by the second support arm. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the lockwasher is welded to face portions of the second support arm. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first end of the rod further includes a washer which can slide relative to the first support arm and another of the support props received by the first support arm. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first support arm has an inner end, and wherein the retaining means is adjacent to the inner end of the first support arm when the support arms are in the fully opened-out position. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first support arm has an outer end opposite to the inner end, and further includes an end stopper welded to the outer end of the first support arm. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the retaining means is adjacent to the end stopper associated with the outer end of the first support arm when the support arms are in the folded-away position. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining means further includes a stop and a cooperating limiter for engaging the stop, associated with and extending between the sheath and the support arms. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is a metal container. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for supporting a container including a body and a plurality of laterally disposed, longitudinal structural members attached to the body, comprising: a sheath attached to and extending between the structural members;   a plurality of support arms slidingly received within the sheath and including means for retaining the support arms within the sheath as the support arms are guided along the sheath to a fully opened-out position; and   a plurality of support props associated with the support arms and hingedly associated with the structural members of the container so that in a folded-away position, the support props are folded into the structural members without projecting from beneath the body of the container;   wherein each of the plurality of support props includes a bearing arm extending from the support arm, and a strut having a first end pivotally connected to the structural member and a second end for pivotable connection to the bearing arm.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the bearing arm includes a fork joint, and wherein the second end of the strut is connectable to the bearing arm by a removable pin for engaging the fork joint, so that the strut and the bearing arm are movable in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the removable pin further includes means for ensuring connection of the strut and the bearing arm. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first end of the strut is connected to the structural member by a support plate connected to the structural member and a ball-and-socket fork joint associated with the support plate, for hingedly receiving the first end of the strut. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the ball-and-socket fork joint further includes a pin for engaging the first end of the strut, and means for retaining the first end of the strut to the pin of the ball-and-socket fork joint. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first end of the strut is connected to the structural member by a pin extending from the structural member. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the structural member includes an opening for receiving the pin so that the strut is foldable into the structural member. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of support props includes a substantially triangular gusset-plate attached to the bearing arm, and wherein the structural member includes an opening for receiving the gusset-plate so that the gusset-plate is receivable in the opening in the structural member during storage of the support props. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the support props includes means for locking the support props in the folded-away position for storage of the support props. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the structural member includes a fork joint, and wherein the bearing arm includes a lug for engaging the fork joint of the structural member, for locking the bearing arm in position during storage of the support props. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lug of the bearing arm and the fork joint of the structural member are capable of receiving a removable pin for securing the bearing arm to the structural member. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the bearing arm includes a lug for engaging the strut during storage of the support props, and for retaining the strut in a folded-away position. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the second end of the strut engages a pin extending from the structural member when in the folded-away position. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the bearing arm includes a sole-plate attached to foot portions of the bearing arm, and the structural member includes a fork joint for receiving the sole-plate of the bearing arm during storage of the support props.